Hey guys, even before Cito Gaston came out and announced that Kevin Gregg is his closer, I disagreed with your assessment of this situation on Tuesday’s show. I picked up Gregg in my two leagues last Sunday, as a 3rd and 4th closer respectively. In League 1, as a 3rd closer behind Mo and Soria, he can be a useful placeholder on my staff, to help me stay close in saves until another closer bites the dust and I swoop in to claim the replacement. In League 2, as a 4th closer, I can leave him in my lineup to help build up my saves lead while at the same time keeping him from someone else, like say, Frasor’s owner. In either league, if Gaston moves him back to setup, I can still hold on to him for the occasional save and vulture win. Both ways, I can still benefit from having him on my team, as long as he doesn’t completely blow up. Baseball HQ projections are a little kinder to Gregg than the combined projections Cory put together (which I’m sure included Shandler’s). I’d be happy with something from Shandler’s to somewhere in between the two.

Nate McLouth just hit the waiver wire today. Is he a guy I should pick up? If so, then who should I drop? My current OFs are Kemp, Crawford, Ellsbury, Werth, Ludwick, and Swisher. (Bear in mind that anyone of these plus Elvis Andrus and Casey McGehee would need to be dropped when Brian Roberts comes off the DL). I’m not impressed with his start this season, but he seems like a guy that will explode when he gets hot. Is the risk worth it?

Guys… Soriano is KILLING me! Is it wise to cut him for Denard Span or Ryan Ludwick or Nyjer Morgan? My offensive roster is pretty balanced so I want to go with the better overall player.

Also, is Carlos Zambrano done? Would I be better off cutting Big Z than Soriano. I’ve got a pretty strong pitching staff and thanks to Cory have Bedard in my DL spot. Lastly, Kazmir just hit waivers… if he pitches well tonight, is he worth a shot over Big Z.

I like that deal. We’re all high on Sanchez around here but you can’t argue that Carpenter, despite the injury risk, is a clear upgrade. While Holliday has to be considered the superior player to Granderson right now, don’t be surprised if they finish the year fairly close in value. Holliday will post a better AVG and drive in more runs but Granderson will steal more and has a great shot at beating out Holliday in homers.
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Glenn,

I do believe that McLouth is still worthy of a roster spot in a standard 12 teamer but wouldn’t drop any of those OFs to pick him up. Another factor here is that you’ve already got a ton of speed and runs in that OF group so not sure exactly how McLouth fits in.

Here’s another question. Is now the time to pick up Liriano? I was hesitant at first to see if he would bounce back from last year, but his start against Boston was solid, something that seems to be lacking from my pitching roster, which consists of Gallardo, Kershaw, Nolasco, Buehrle, Arroyo, Happ, and Pineiro. Who would you drop to pick up Liriano?

Advice here appreciated fellas!… Offered Jose Reyes for Ricky Nolasco in an NL 5×5 keeper league. Currently have A. Escobar ****. SPs are Haren, Gallardo, Big Z — also Strasburg and Chapman on bench. Could use SBs from projections but on the fence with this hitter for SP trade. Thanks for your help! – Chris

Too early to panic?! Hey guys, my team right now is horrible. I have Rollins (picked up Aki), Roberts (picked up Theriot), Sizemore, Ibanez, McClouth, and Chris Davis all either hurt or doing nothing for me. My pitching is pretty good, but I’m pretty much relying on A Gonzalez, V Martinez and Willingham for all my offense. Should I sit tight or start making deals? I need a pep talk. Thanks

Too early to panic?! Hey guys, my team right now is horrible. I have Rollins (picked up Aki), Roberts (picked up Theriot), Sizemore, Ibanez, McClouth, and Chris Davis all either hurt or doing nothing for me. My pitching is pretty good, but I’m pretty much relying on A Gonzalez, V Martinez and Willingham for all my offense. Should I sit tight or start making deals? I need a pep talk. Thanks

Hey guys, quick trade question in a 10 man 6×6 (plus OPS/Losses) roto league: I have Kendry at 1B and Tulo at SS. Although it’s only a week and change, I’m wondering if last year was a fluke for Kendry. I was offered Morneau and an SP (Beckett, Jimenez, Burnett, or Sanchez) for Tulo. I definitely need K’s from my SP staff. Would you guys do this deal? And if so, for which pitcher? My backup SS is Stephen Drew. Thanks a bunch.

Hey guys,
I’m wondering if you’d pick up Gorzelanny for his start against the lowly Astros on Saturday. I noticed his line was pretty good against Cincinnati in his first start.
One other question. I currently have Orlando Cabrera as my SS. Furcal is clearing waivers tomorrow, is it worth picking him up and platooning these guys or would you drop Cabrera outright to pick up Furcal?
Thanks for the terrific advice.

Not a Soriano fan at all but I still think you’ve got to be a little patient. He’s a very streaky player. That said, I think Span is a must-add right now and a better option than Soriano. I’m a little concerned about Big Z now and since you already have solid pitching without him, I say drop Zambrano for Span. Keep an eye on Ludwick as well as he’s liable to really heat up.
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Glenn,

Yeah, definitely go ahead and grab Liriano for either Happ or Pineiro. I’d lean towards cutting Pineiro due to his lack of Ks combined with the AL factor.
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Chris,

I’d do it. As much as I like Nolasco, he’s a lot more replaceable than Reyes, who still has a decent chance of returning to his past elite form. Also take into consideration the lack of depth at SS, particularly in a non-mixed, and the fact that this is a keeper.

By the way, pass on Kazmir. I still prefer Big Z.
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Scott,

Can’t really do anything about the injuries to Rollins and Roberts…that’s just unfortunate. Grady’s an established star who I think will bounce back and I don’t see you getting much in return for McLouth right now so sit tight. Too early to rule out 20/20. Not all that confident in Davis though so you may want to explore trading for another power bat. But overall, it is too early to panic so relax!
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mikey,

A Ubaldo and Morneau for Tulo deal is tempting considering that you already have Drew sitting on your bench but if acquiring Morneau means you’ll be sitting Kendry I’ll pass. I don’t think Morales’ 2009 was a fluke and still don’t view Morneau as much of an upgrade over Kendry. Sit tight. Tulo’s the best player in the deal and just not a guy you should trade unless you’re getting a ******** return.
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Johannes,

Lowe just has not looked good so far this year so I agree with Mike and Cory. He’s coming off a terrible season and is already allowing way too many baserunners and is even uncharacteristically handing out a lot of free passes. Don’t be fooled by the two wins. He needs to show some signs of improvement.
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milhouse,

I’m generally not a believer in too much commish interference but dropping Ethier is inexcusable. Add him back to the owner’s roster and tell him to work a trade if he really wants Ethier off his team. Moves like this one damage the integrity of the league to the point where the commish needs to step in. Also make sure that this guy isn’t invited back next year!
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Ben,

In the Pitch or Ditch post that’ll go up shortly, both Siano and Schwartz advise to start Gorzelanny so there you go!

Hi, great job as always. Love the evening show. I am in a 12 team 5×5 vanilla w/ 4 OF, CI and MI. I am looking to improve my pitching staff. I am considering trading Manny Ramirez for Helton and Nolasco.
Helton would replace Manny at Utility. My OF / U would be BJ Upton, Colby Rasmus, Chris B Young, Austin Jackson and Helton with Soriano & Ortiz on the bench (hopefully they wake up) & Beltran on the DL. It would leave me thin in the OF, but I am concerned with my SP. Currently, I have Hamels, Wandy, Slowey, Zambrano, Pavano and Duchscherer (Bedard on the DL). Should I take the downgrade from Manny to Helton to add Nolasco? Or play pitch & ditch till someone emerges / Bedard returns? I am last in era & whip.
Thanks, Jaded in NYC

As for Furcal/O-Cab, Furcal’s looking good so far and has already swiped four bags which is an encouraging sign considering his recent injury woes. He’s clearly worth picking up. If you have the space to hold onto O-Cab for a little while longer, that would be my preference but if it comes down to dropping O-Cab for Furcal, I’m OK with it.
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Ed,

Don’t take the April 16th standings that seriously as Hamels and Wandy have gotten off to particularly poor starts. That said, I like the deal for you. I’m not a Manny fan at all this year and actually don’t see the switch from Manny to Helton as much of a downgrade (outside of 10 or so homers). Nolasco is well worth it.

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